The Robert L. Simons Collection is comprised of materials relating to Simons’ career as a military and commercial pilot from the 1920s-1940s, including logbooks, military records, photographs, and films.
There are six logbooks from Simons’ time as a commercial pilot in various U.S. cities spanning from 1928-1947. Several licenses and cards are included, include pilot's and mechanic's licenses, a radio operator's license, a military identification card, and membership cards for the OX5 Aviation Pioneers and Veterans of Foreign Wars. The collection's photographs are comprised of several portraits of Simons, some in his U.S. Army Air Forces uniform, and a portrait of an unidentified man. There is also a folder of assorted clippings.
The films, which were likely taken by Simons, contain a mix of content, such as travel and aerial footage, National Air Race footage, and footage depicting commercial and U.S. military aircraft. The films are from the late 1930s and early 1940s. They range from under a minute to 17 minutes in length. Because Simons most likely shot the footage, he does not appear in any of the films.
The collection also includes short snorter bills consisting of signed bank notes from Algeria, Egypt, the Republic of China, Morocco, Greenland, Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
There are six logbooks from Simons’ time as a commercial pilot in various U.S. cities spanning from 1928-1947. Several licenses and cards are included, include pilot's and mechanic's licenses, a radio operator's license, a military identification card, and membership cards for the OX5 Aviation Pioneers and Veterans of Foreign Wars. The collection's photographs are comprised of several portraits of Simons, some in his U.S. Army Air Forces uniform, and a portrait of an unidentified man. There is also a folder of assorted clippings.
The films, which were likely taken by Simons, contain a mix of content, such as travel and aerial footage, National Air Race footage, and footage depicting commercial and U.S. military aircraft. The films are from the late 1930s and early 1940s. They range from under a minute to 17 minutes in length. Because Simons most likely shot the footage, he does not appear in any of the films.
The collection also includes short snorter bills consisting of signed bank notes from Algeria, Egypt, the Republic of China, Morocco, Greenland, Mexico, Canada, and the United States.
Dates
- 1925-1972
- Majority of material found within 1938-1948
Creator
- Simons, Robert L., 1905-1973 (Person)
Language of Materials
All materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research and is accessible in the Dahlberg Research Center by appointment. The film in this collection may not be handled, but a digital surrogate is available on our The Museum of Flight Digital Collections. For more information contact us.
Conditions Governing Use
The Museum of Flight (TMOF) Archives is the owner of the physical materials in the archives and makes available reproductions for research, publication, and other uses. Written permission must be obtained from TMOF archives before any publication use. TMOF does not necessarily hold copyright to all of the materials in the collections. In some cases, permission for use may require seeking additional authorization from copyright owners. Consult repository for more details.
Extent
1.7 Cubic Feet (one document box and 15 film reels)
Overview
Robert Lewis Simons was a military and commercial pilot in the mid-twentieth century. The Collection is comprised of materials relating to Simons’ career , including log books, military records, photographs, and films.
Biographical Note: Robert L. Simons
Robert Lewis Simons was a military and commercial pilot in the mid-twentieth century.
Simons was born on September 23, 1905 in Hebron, Maine. He was a barnstormer on the East Coast for most of the 1920s, then worked as a transport pilot for airlines including Robertson Aircraft Co., Stearman Aircraft Co., Boeing Airplane Co., Transcontinental and Western Air, Inc. (later Trans World Airlines), and Wilmington-Catalina Airlines, Ltd.
In 1931, he began working for the U.S. Department of Commerce in the Bureau of Air Commerce (BAC). He worked for the BAC in various roles until 1942 when he was called to active duty with the U.S. Army Air Corps. Simons served in various places, including Canada, Greenland, Iceland, England, and locations within the U.S. He was honorably discharged in 1945 as a Major. After the war he returned to the Civil Aeronautics Authority, precursor to the Federal Aviation Administration.
He moved to Seattle in 1952. Simons died on October 4, 1973.
Biographical note derived from collection and donor materials.
Simons was born on September 23, 1905 in Hebron, Maine. He was a barnstormer on the East Coast for most of the 1920s, then worked as a transport pilot for airlines including Robertson Aircraft Co., Stearman Aircraft Co., Boeing Airplane Co., Transcontinental and Western Air, Inc. (later Trans World Airlines), and Wilmington-Catalina Airlines, Ltd.
In 1931, he began working for the U.S. Department of Commerce in the Bureau of Air Commerce (BAC). He worked for the BAC in various roles until 1942 when he was called to active duty with the U.S. Army Air Corps. Simons served in various places, including Canada, Greenland, Iceland, England, and locations within the U.S. He was honorably discharged in 1945 as a Major. After the war he returned to the Civil Aeronautics Authority, precursor to the Federal Aviation Administration.
He moved to Seattle in 1952. Simons died on October 4, 1973.
Biographical note derived from collection and donor materials.
Arrangement
The materials were organized by format.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
The collection was acquired from a family member.
Accruals
No further accruals are expected.
Existence and Location of Copies
Materials from this collection have been digitized and are available at The Museum of Flight Digital Collections.
Separated Materials
Two metal membership cards for Quiet Birdmen and one vinyl document case were transferred to the Objects collection.
- 8mm (photographic film size)
- Aeronautics, Commercial
- Air pilots
- Air pilots, Military
- Air shows
- Airlines
- Airplane occupants
- Airplane racing
- Airplanes -- Formation flying
- Airplanes, Military
- Airports
- Airships
- Alaska
- Aviation ground crews
- Boats and boating
- Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Family
- Boeing Model 247D
- Boeing XB-15 (Model 294, XBLR-1)
- Boeing Y1B-17 Flying Fortress (Model 299B, YB-17, B-17)
- Bush flying
- Bush pilots
- California
- China
- Commuter aircraft
- Curtiss P-36 Hawk Family
- Denali, Mount (Alaska)
- Douglas B-18 Family
- Douglas DC-2 Family
- Douglas DC-3 Family
- Douglas DC-4 Experimental (DC-4E)
- Douglas Dolphin Family
- Flight crews
- Grumman F3F Family
- Hawaii
- Japan
- Junks
- Kōbe-shi (Japan)
- Maine
- Manila (Philippines)
- National Championship Air Races
- Naval Aircraft Factory N3N Family
- Nome (Alaska)
- North American BT-9/BT-14 Family
- Northrop A-17 (8A) Nomad
- Northwest Airlines Corporation
- Okinawa Island (Japan)
- Parachuting
- Pennsylvania
- Seaplanes
- Shanghai (China)
- Ships
- Stunt flying
- Trans World Airlines
- United States. Air Force
- United States. Navy
- Wilmington-Catalina Airlines
- World War, 1939-1945
- clippings (information artifacts)
- identity cards
- logs (records)
- military records
- photographic prints
- short snorter
Creator
- Simons, Robert L., 1905-1973 (Person)
- Title
- Guide to the Robert L. Simons Collection
- Status
- Completed - Level 3
- Author
- A. Matthews
- Date
- 2021
- Description rules
- dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Sponsor
- Processing, cataloging, and digitization of the films in this collection was made possible by a Council on Libraries and Information Resources (CLIR) "Recordings at Risk" grant.
- Edition statement
- 1st edition
Repository Details
Part of the The Museum of Flight Archives Repository
Contact:
9404 East Marginal Way South
Seattle Washington 98108-4097
206-764-7874
curator@museumofflight.org
9404 East Marginal Way South
Seattle Washington 98108-4097
206-764-7874
curator@museumofflight.org